Funeral of 'extremely talented' GAA star to take place as tributes pour in

Irish Daily Mirror

2 days ago

The funeral of Éanna Rouine will take place on Sunday as tributes continue to pour in for the talented Clare footballer. The Ennistymon clubman passed away earlier this week, aged 20.
Éanna represented his county at both minor and U20 level. He also won an All-Ireland Freshers Football title at UL, where he was a second year student.
His funeral takes place at the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Lahinch on Sunday at 1pm followed by burial in Kilmacreehy Cemetery.
A death notice on RIP.ie reads: "It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Éanna Rouine, aged 20, who left this world far too soon on May 27th 2025 in St. James's Hospital Dublin, surrounded by his loving family and friends.
"Éanna was a bright, kind hearted and spirited young man whose presence brought joy to all who knew him. A son, a brother, a grandson, a cousin, a nephew and a friend, he touched lives with his laughter, kindness and his beautiful smiling face."
Tributes have been pouring in for Éanna since his tragic death, with Ennistymon chairman Shane Talty describing him as one of the most decorated players to ever play for the club.
He told Clare FM: "It's important for ourselves and for the broader club and young lads involved in teams and everyone in the parish, I suppose, that we can do the best we can to hang together and to look out and look after one another.
"Remember Éanna and remember the great times in his life on the pitch from a lot of our own club point of view, but off the pitch as well and the broader picture of the young man with such a bright and talented life ahead of him in terms of his music talents, his wit and his humour and his character and how he carries himself and engages and how laid back he was at times."
On Éanna's footballing skills and achievements, Mr Talty added: "He won everything, he's probably one of the most decorated players that ever went through the club of Ennistymon in terms of winning from under-12s or 13s up along, or 12s as it was in that time, under-12s up along, well he would have won any medals at every age bracket.
"If medals could count, he had a fabulous life ahead and an under-17 medal in 2021 and then two under-21s in a row there in 2022 and 2023. Last year didn't go as well, he would have been playing for three in a row last year and on the three years of the Clare under-20s panel there under Mikey Neylon and all the great bonds and friendships and experiences he had through those experiences.
"Then through his college years then as well in UL and his studies and his playing experiences again on the freshers teams in UL and winning medals there, you know, and touching so many people. His circle of friends extends the breadth of the country through his college life as well, so we know that the impact of such a sudden and untimely passing is touching so many people throughout the country."
Clare GAA said Éanna's sporting achievements "are only measures of him as an athlete and a player", describing him as "a popular and beloved young man with his whole life ahead of him".
"The Clare GAA community is deeply shocked and profoundly saddened by the untimely passing of Ennistymon's Éanna Rouine on Tuesday morning," Clare GAA wrote on social media. "Éanna was an extremely talented and promising young footballer with both club and county. He represented Clare at Minor level in 2021 , was part of the Clare U20 panel from 2022 to 2024 and was a star of the Ennistymon CBS football team when the school landed the famous achievement of a provincial double in 2023 .
"Éanna was a second year student at UL and had already won an All Ireland Freshers Football title with the college. While important achievements and now so important to cherish, these of course are only measures of him as an athlete and a player. Above anything else Éanna was a popular and beloved young man with his whole life ahead of him .
"His loss has left a void that words cannot fill, and his absence will be felt not only on the field but in the hearts of all who knew him in his community and circle of friends in North Clare. At this heartbreaking time, Clare GAA extends its deepest condolences and sympathies to his clubmates, his many friends, and above all, to his devastated and heartbroken family- parents Catríona and John and his siblings, Eoin, Dara and Bríd-Aine and the extended Rouine and O'Gorman families. We stand in solidarity with them in their grief, and we honour the memory of a young life taken far too soon."
Éanna's club also expressed their shock and sadness at his passing, posting online: "All in Ennistymon GAA are shocked & saddened at the untimely passing of our great teammate & friend Éanna.
"A truly talented & accomplished sportsman, but much more than that, he was intelligent, witty, a strong academic performer, a talented musician, a loyal friend & a loving son, grandson & brother. His on field successes are too numerous to list. His passing will leave a void in the club that we will all struggle to deal with together in the days, months & years ahead.
"To his parents Cáitriona & John, his brothers Eoin & Dara, his sister Brid Áine, his grandmother Bridget, his Uncles, Aunts, Cousins and all the Rouine & O'Gorman families we offer our sincere heartfelt condolences, in the knowledge that no words can truly console you at this terrible time. Ar Dheis de go raibh a anam."
UL GAA Club, who Éanna represented at Sigerson 1 & 2 level, wrote: "All at UL GAA club are deeply saddened to hear of the untimely passing of Éanna Rouine. Éanna represented the club at Sigerson 1&2 level and was part of last year's historic Fresher 1 League Victory. Our thoughts are with his family, friends and teammates at this difficult time."